Paper 128 Overview: Jesus' Early Manhood

Jesus of Nazareth entered his adult years living an ordinary human life while simultaneously fulfilling his divine purpose. His dual mission consisted of mastering the experience of living as a human being and revealing the Universal Father to mortal beings. During these critical years from ages 21 to 27, Jesus worked as a carpenter, supported his family, and gradually prepared both himself and his loved ones for his eventual departure to begin his public ministry.

These years of early manhood were characterized by Jesus's conscious development of both his human and divine natures. He deliberately chose to live as an ordinary craftsman, earning his living through honest labor while experiencing the full range of human emotions and challenges. Throughout this period, he intentionally maintained a low profile, avoiding activities that might later distract from his message or create undue veneration of him personally rather than attention to his teachings.

As Jesus entered adulthood, he continued to live a normal and average human life. Though he chose this particular world for his seventh and final incarnation in human form, his birth and growth followed the natural pattern of human development. He struggled with everyday problems and challenges just as all people do on earth.

The dual purpose of Jesus's life on earth was clear: first, to experience the complete life of a human creature in mortal flesh, thereby completing his sovereignty in his universe; and second, to reveal the Universal Father to the inhabitants of the worlds of time and space, helping them better understand God. All other benefits to creatures and advantages to the universe were secondary to these two primary purposes of his mortal incarnation.

Upon reaching adulthood at age 21, Jesus fully and self-consciously began the task of mastering the knowledge and experience of human life. He undertook this immense challenge knowing his dual nature as both divine and human, which he had already effectively combined into one being—Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was keenly aware of his humanity, choosing "Son of Man" as his first title to reflect this reality.

Jesus experienced the full range of human conditions—he labored, grew tired, rested, slept, hungered, and thirsted just like anyone else. He obtained knowledge through study and combined that with experience to develop wisdom, without relying on supernatural powers before his baptism. Before beginning his public work, Jesus emptied himself of his prehuman attributes, ensuring his knowledge of people and events came entirely through human channels. This allowed him to truly understand and minister to those who were confused and distressed, having personally faced the same trials they experienced.

This year found Jesus helping his siblings navigate the challenges of adolescence. With brothers and sisters ranging from ages 7 to 18, he spent considerable time assisting them through the intellectual and emotional adjustments of growing up. The family decided to diversify their trades rather than having all the boys become carpenters, allowing them to take on larger construction projects together.

Jesus worked at home finishing and cabinet-making for part of the year, then spent six months working with metals in Sepphoris. Before leaving for this job, he formally installed James, now 18, as acting head of the family, promising support while giving him full responsibility. Jesus wisely remained away even when he could have returned home, deliberately training James and Joseph to handle family affairs. This experience in Sepphoris also gave Jesus greater exposure to gentile viewpoints and culture, though he eventually returned to Nazareth when work was offered involving Herod Antipas, whom Jesus preferred not to serve under.

The family's financial pressure eased somewhat this year as four members were now working. Miriam earned money selling milk and butter, and Martha had become skilled at weaving. Jesus took a break from work for three weeks to escort Simon to Jerusalem for Passover, traveling extensively throughout Palestine and giving Jesus broader knowledge of the country.

During their journey, they spent time in Philadelphia where they met a merchant from Damascus who developed a strong liking for Jesus. This merchant owned over 4,000 caravan camels with business interests throughout the Roman world. He invited Jesus to join his Oriental import business in Damascus, but Jesus explained he couldn't go so far from his family at that time. The journey also included a significant encounter with Stephen, a young Hellenist visiting Jerusalem, who later became a believer in Jesus and eventually the first Christian martyr, though he never realized the Galilean he spoke with was the same person whose teachings he later embraced.

Jesus spent four months in Damascus as a guest of the merchant he had previously met in Philadelphia. This wealthy businessman proposed establishing an extraordinary school of religious philosophy in Damascus that would rival Alexandria. He wanted Jesus to first travel to the world's educational centers to prepare for becoming the head of this ambitious project—one of the greatest temptations Jesus faced in his human career.

The merchant assembled twelve business leaders and bankers who agreed to support the school, and Jesus showed genuine interest in helping plan its organization. However, he consistently explained that prior obligations prevented him from accepting leadership of such an enterprise. Even when offered financial support, Jesus declined, recognizing that his mission on earth was not meant to be supported by learning institutions or directed by human councils. It was remarkable that this obscure carpenter from Nazareth, rejected by Jerusalem's religious leaders, was recognized and hailed as a master teacher by the businessmen of Damascus.

This was Jesus's first year with relative freedom from family responsibilities, as James was successfully managing the home with Jesus's counsel and financial assistance. A young man from Alexandria visited Nazareth to arrange a meeting between Jesus and Alexandrian Jews, which was set for mid-June in Caesarea. There, five prominent Jews asked Jesus to establish himself as a religious teacher in their city, offering him the position of assistant to the chazan in their chief synagogue.

The representatives explained that Alexandria was becoming the headquarters of Jewish culture worldwide and that the Hellenistic trend was outpacing the Babylonian school of thought. They warned about potential rebellion in Jerusalem that could lead to Roman intervention, destruction of the city, and demolition of the temple. Jesus listened carefully to their proposal, thanked them for their confidence, but declined, simply saying, "My hour has not yet come." They were surprised by his apparent indifference to the honor they offered and presented him with a gift of money, which he also refused, explaining that his family never accepted alms.

The family's regular schooling was completed for all children except Martha, who still had some responsibilities teaching Ruth. Jesus was described as one of the most robust and refined examples of manhood since Adam, with superb physical development and an active, penetrating mind. The family finances were in excellent condition, with final payments made on the repair shop and no outstanding debts.

Jesus decided to take his brother Jude, who had just graduated from synagogue school, to Jerusalem for his first visit to the temple. They traveled by the Jordan valley to avoid potential trouble in Samaria. While in Jerusalem, Jesus encountered Lazarus of Bethany and was arranging to celebrate Passover together when Jude created a problem by responding angrily to a Roman guard who had made improper remarks about a Jewish girl. The guard arrested Jude, and Jesus stayed with him in military prison for two days until after the holy convocation day when he could secure his brother's release by explaining the situation and apologizing for Jude's youth and impulsiveness.

During this year, Jesus became strongly conscious of his wide range of potential powers but remained firmly convinced that these abilities should not be employed by his personality as the Son of Man, at least until "his hour should come." He thought deeply about his relationship with his Father in heaven, concluding in prayer, "Regardless of who I am and what power I may or may not wield, I always have been, and always will be, subject to the will of my Paradise Father."

Family affairs ran smoothly except for continuing issues with Jude, who wasn't reliable about work or contributing to family expenses. Jesus counseled patience, telling his brothers, "Be patient. Be wise in your counsel and eloquent in your lives, that your young brother may first know the better way and then be constrained to follow you in it." Jesus was clearly preparing for eventual departure from home, weaning his family from dependence on his presence. Mary occasionally asked about his future, to which he would only reply, "My hour has not yet come," as he continued the difficult task of preparing to leave the Nazareth home.

In January of A.D. 21, Jesus took unceremonious leave of his family, explaining only that he was going to Tiberias and other cities around the Sea of Galilee. He first spent a week in Tiberias, then moved through Magdala and Bethsaida to Capernaum, where he visited his father's friend Zebedee, a boatbuilder. Jesus, being an expert in design and woodworking, joined Zebedee's business when invited.

Jesus worked with Zebedee for just over a year, during which time he created an entirely new style of boat and established improved boatmaking methods. His superior techniques and method of steaming boards produced boats that were safer for sailing the lake than older types. Within five years, most vessels on the lake had been built in Zebedee's shop, making Jesus well known to Galilean fisherfolk as a boat designer. He lived in Zebedee's home during this period and grew close to the family, particularly Zebedee's sons James, John, and David. This was Jesus's last year of settled life before beginning his travels and preparation for public ministry.